Tag Archives: stashdown!

Brandywine Shawl is one of those patterns in my one-day-I-will-knit-this list. I coveted the pattern ever since I laid my eyes on it and was lucky enough to receive it as a gift from a swap I participated in ages ago, (thanks, Susan!) but just never found the drive to actually knit it.

I hand-dyed the yarn I used for this project, originally planning to use it for colourwork but I was itching to cast on a shawl in this yarn. The pattern is a gift from SusanFromAthens during a Sundara swap. 🙂

My original cast on date was actually the 12th of August 2011. Yes. So long ago. I was in the middle of Chart B, that much I remember, and I made the mistake of not marking my place in the chart. So when I dropped the project to work on something and then came back to it, I could not read my work! I had no idea where in the chart I was.

So nearly 3 years after that original cast on, I frogged what little progress I had and restarted the shawl. The years between had hopefully given me enough experience to know better than to rely on my own (failing) memory.

I did 12 repeats of Chart B since the skein is quite generous and I think I could have added one more repeat and still have leftover to contribute to my sock yarn blanket.

It was fun while it lasted but I am glad to finish this shawl. Seems like ages ago when I first had the desire to knit this complicated-looking shawl. I struggled with the i-cord bind off and even thought of doing just a regular stretchy version but it looked untidy and out of place. So I persevered until I got the hang of it, which was quite satisfying because now the shawl has a nice neat top edge.

It’s no secret that I am a knitter and I love yarn. It gives me something productive to turn to when I’m not at my day job. Dyeing yarn is something I also do in the side but not on full-time basis just yet. The lovely Theresa of reMADE DXB approached me a while ago to ask if I was interested in doing a knitting workshop. I could hardly contain my excitement but had to play it cool, as you do.

I’m not a very good teacher, in my opinion, because I would expect you to follow my exact instructions and if a finger flicks the wrong way, I might start to get a twitch in my left eye.

Seriously though, I think it will be just fine. Theresa will be there to support me so I’m certain I won’t make such a mess of things.

Without further adieu, here are the details of the Knit Academy – Cable Workshop from reMADE DXB: clicky.

The workshop will be held on the 21st and 28th Nov from 11am at the reMADE studio in Al Barsha.

This is perfect for confident beginners and intermediate knitters who want to learn cables, seamless knitting in the round and other new techniques to add to their knitting arsenal. All materials will be provided, you just need to bring your knit game on!

Eleven days left in October. That’s how many days any self-respecting sock knitter has to finish at least one pair of socks to celebrate this most sacred month: Socktober. In the knitting world, this means knitting socks all month long. In the real world, it means collecting pairs of socks and donating them to homeless shelters, as in the USA. Either way, it’s all about socks.

It’s not too late to cast on a pair now if you haven’t already done so. And to help you along, here’s my top picks for sock patterns that will surely tickle your toes.Read the rest of this entry →

I have been on a good finishing streak so this post is all about glamour shots of said FOs.

Who needs a cowl in Dubai? It might surprise you to know that it does get cold here, in the desert, despite over 360 days of glorious sunshine every year. Yes, we get an average of 5 days a year when the mighty Sun is obscured due to heavy fog or sandstorm, or heavens forbid we get rain! Out of the 360 days, about 60 of those are the actual proper “winter” when the temperature sometimes hits single digits. You can never go wrong with a cowl tucked in your handbag for the rest of the year because of over-zealous air conditioning everywhere. I mean everywhere! So yes, cowls in Dubai are a thing.

This one was a test-knit. It was more like a recipe because it’s brioche stitch and if you haven’t tried knitting brioche stitch then you are missing out on the fun, big time! However, the ever-talented Dieuwke has added an amazing twist to this cowl. See that braid of squishy goodness? Yes, that! Do you think you can figure out how to get that? Ha! Maybe you can after studying it and doing a trial-and-error for the next few weeks or months, but why bother when you can grab the pattern from Ravelry? I present to you my Experioche, knit in my own hand-dyed Dubai Knits Luxe DK. Well, the white yarn is undyed. I’m a bit partial, but I just love this yarn.Read the rest of this entry →

This past weekend, I had not one, but two instances which proved that you cannot take anything for granted, no matter how much of an expert you think you are, or how long you have been doing the same thing. Trusting your instinct is great but trusting instructions/patterns that have been proven time and again by hundreds of others before you is not something you can ignore.

A little while ago, Dieuwke ran a KAL in her Ravelry group. Anyone who signed up to knit Hallow Moon gets the pattern for free. It’s a neat little shawl with knitted on i-cord on either edging. It does tend to get a little hairy at first but once you get the hang of it, you’re good to go. Also, Dieuwke created a simple, concise video tutorial for the i-cord technique so you won’t have to struggle to figure it out on your own.Read the rest of this entry →

Preeti and I did a KAL in summer last year. Gee, why does it sound like it was so long ago when it was only a few months in reality? Well,it was in 2014 so it is actually a while ago. Anyway, we talked about it and decided to knit Stripe Study Shawl together. I have made one in the past and decided I have way too many single skein sock yarns to make multiple colour combinations of the same shawl. And it’s garter stitch, what’s not to like?Read the rest of this entry →

Boxy Cape is a new pattern by the super talented and amazing Joji Locatelli. I was one of the lucky test knitters who had to keep this under wraps for a little longer than planned while Joji finishes up on other designs. It was hard, I tell you. I did show off my finished cape at the last Amiras meet-up where Jackie modeled it for me. Thanks, Joji for letting me test this!

Once upon a couple or so years ago, a lovely Danish lady called Dieuwke lived in Dubai for some time. The Amiras were lucky to have met her and saw for ourselves the astonishing talent that she has when it comes to knitting. I remember a turquoise top she was knitting at the time and she was making such quick progress on it despite making modifications to the design. And then the next time we saw her, she was actually wearing the turquoise top!

I suppose it was only a matter of time before all that talent would spill over onto designing knitwear and making waves in festivals and on Ravelry. So very proud of you, Dieuwke!

Therefore, when she hosted a KAL in her Ravelry group for Brighton Beach, I just had to sign up. This is a fun shawl pattern she designed for Unwind Brighton this year. Naturally, I knitted not one, but two shawls in quick succession because they are just that much fun and easy to make.

My knitting this year has slowed down considerably although I feel like I am always knitting! It could partly be because the items I have finished so far are large pattern-heavy shawls. Not complaining, but wish I could tick more WIPs from the list. And don’t even get me started on my ever-changing Ravelry queue!

I’m glad to have finished this shawl, though. It’s Daybreak by Stephen West, back when he was just a normal knitwear designer and not this avant-garde, neon-eye-make-up-wearing, flower-pasting pixie. Not dissing, it’s entertaining but really takes focus away from the designs. Ah well, thank you, Stephen for these sensible designs from your early years.Read the rest of this entry →